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Passengers at the Port of San Francisco: 1800s

Brooklyn

Arrive San Francisco

July 31, 1846BrooklynCaptain Abel W. Richardson
(Note: Another source lists him as Capt. Edward Richardson) From New York

Passage

The Brooklyn, a 445-ton ship, 125 feet long was one of the first passenger ships to make the New York to San Francisco journey, and was organized by the young Sam Brannan, an Elder in the Church of the Latter-day Saints.

Samuel Brannan
California Pioneer Newspaper Publisher.

Samuel Brannan, who was a printer from New York, was chosen as leader of the group, and he was authorized to charter the sailing vessel. At the request of church elders, he gathered 238 passengers for a journey to the West Coast of the Americas. This group of mostly Mormons (12 were non-members) consisted of 70 men, 68 women and 100 children.

The Saints combined resources and secured the 370-ton vessel Brooklyn under the command of Captain Richardson. The charge for the ship was $1,200 per month if they would furnish all their own provisions and if the men would handle the cargo. The captain of the ship ordered the space between decks converted into living quarters. A long table, backless benches, and sleeping cubicles with bunks were built, and all were securely bolted to the deck.

They sailed on February 4, 1846, which also happened to be the same day that the Saints began leaving Nauvoo. On board the Brooklyn there were approximately 70 men, 68 women, and 100 children living in cramped quarters with low ceilings where only the children could stand upright. Most everyone suffered from seasickness. Storms in the Atlantic blew them almost to the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. Storms battered them around the Horn. Scurvy was prevalent, and the water supply dwindled, as they made their way north toward Valparaiso, Chile. Gale winds actually blew them back into Antarctic waters and on May 4, into the Juan Fernndez Islands, made famous by Defoe in Robinson Crusoe. They stopped for fresh water, and to bury a young mother of seven in what may have been the first Latter Day Saint service held in the Southern Hemisphere. She had been thrown down a hatchway in a storm and died of her injuries.

After five days' rest on the Juan Fernandez Islands, the group of pioneers sailed for Hawaii for fresh vegetables, fruits, water and arms, then to Yerba Buena.

Mission Dolores
San Francisco California

They landed in the sleepy town on July 31, 1846. The Latter-day Saints were greeted by several American settlers and members of Spanish families and a group of Indians. Their number doubled the size of the town. They began their stay in tents pitched near what is now Washington and Montgomery Streets.

Sixteen families found shelter in a small adobe house on Dupont Street (now Grant Avenue in the heart of Chinatown) and others in Mission Dolores, which was deserted at that time.

The voyage of the Brooklyn was, perhaps, the longest continuous sea journey of any religious organization in history. It took six months and covered 24,000 miles. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea on their way to Canaan. The Pilgrims of 1620 crossed the Atlantic, a voyage of about 3,000 miles and and were on the water 63 days. The Saints on the Brooklyn crossed the equator on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, went from the icy Antarctic to the tropical Hawaiian Islands and then to California. There were 120 Puritan Pilgrims, whereas the Brooklyn Saints numbered approximately 240. The two groups were alike in many respects in that they were predominately young people with small children and traveled with an unshakeable faith and belief in God.

June 22, 2014
The following has been provided by a descendant of the Eagar family:

EAGAR, LUCY BUELL (Born 1803; Died 1888) – (42 at the time of sailing) Her husband, Thomas Eagar, was born about 1792 and died 1840 in New York, before the family sailed for California. Here is a notice of probate from a New York newspapaer.
January 19, 1841 - Hudson River Chronicle (Ossining, NY); Volume: 4; Issue: 14; Page: 3 - (From Genealogy Bank)

EXECUTRIX'S NOTICE

Pursuant to an order of Alexander H. Wells, Esq., Surrogate of the County of Westchester, notice is hereby given to all persons having claims against the Estate of Thomas Eagar, late of the town of Mount Pleasant, deceased, to present the same, with the vouchers thereof, to Lucy Eagar, the Executrix of said Estate, at her present residence, at Sing Sing on the Upper Landing, on or before the sixteenth day of July next.
Lucy Eagar, Executrix. Sing Sing, January 16th, 1841. 14m6

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EAGAR, JOHN (Born 1823; Died 1864)
(23 years old at the time of sailing) – Son of Thomas Eagar, Sr. and Lucy Buell

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EAGAR, MARY (Born 1827; Died 1902)
(18 years old at the time of sailing) – Daughter of Thomas Eagar, Sr. and Lucy Buell

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EAGAR, THOMAS (Born 1830; Died 1900)
(16 years old at the time of sailing) – Son of Thomas Eagar, Sr. and Lucy Buell

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EAGAR, ARABELLA (Born 1832; Died: sometime after 1887)
(13 years old at the time of sailing) – Daughter of Thomas Eagar, Sr. and Lucy Buell

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EAGAR, WILLIAM (Born 1835; Died 1873)
(10 years old at the time of sailing) – Son of Thomas Eagar, Sr. and Lucy Buell)

Eagar, John (23: noted as husband of
42-year-old Lucy and father of three children)
Eagar, Lucy Buell (42: noted as wife of John)
Eagar, Mary (18: daughter of John and Lucy)
Eagar, Thomas (16: son of John and Lucy)
Eagar, Arabella (13: daughter of John and Lucy)
Eagar, William (10: son of John and Lucy)

THE MORMONS. In making some extracts from the "Friend," a paper published at Honolulu, we feel it our duty to state some facts, which have occurred within the circle of our acquaintance. We lived in Illinois, not far from the mormons at the time of the last mormon war, there was a great many hard things said against them, probably much of it true, though many things may have been highly colored. At all events, they have landed here; this is to be their home; those of us who have preceded them, have not the right to prevent their settlement, but we must join heartily with the "Friend" in wishing that whatever errors of Government or of conduct may have led to their former troubles, will be corrected here; that they may see the vital importance of pursuing such a course as to insure their harmony with others. May God rule their councils in wisdom.

"Their present Condition and Prospective plans, —As has been already stated, they estimate their numbers by hundreds of thousands, very many of whom have come off from other denominations. This is true of the company on board the "Brooklyn." Some have come from the Baptists, others from the Methodists, a few from the Presbyterians while almost every denomination has its representative among them. So far as we are able to learn, California is now to be their grand central rendezvous, while the beautiful region around San Francisco Bay is the chosen spot where the latter-day saints propose to settle. Abating much from the highly colored descriptions which we have always heard respecting that region, it must still be regarded as a most enchanting spot, and the most desirable location for a colony to be found upon the long line of the North and South American sea coast. The natural facilities of the country and bay conspire to render it certain, that many years cannot elapse before flourishing cities and villages will diversify the scene. The watchword of the Mormons now is "California.'' The few score of emigrants on board the "Brooklyn" are but a fraction of the immense numbers already on their way thither. The difficulties in which these people found themselves at Nauvoo, and other parts of the states, have led to the resolution to "break up" and "be off" for California. From various reports, we conclude that about 25,000 have left Nauvoo aud other parts of the states for California; while the report has reached us, that a vessel with Mormon emigrants has already left Liverpool, and that others will soon follow, all bound for California.

Whatever views different classes of Christians and politicians, may form of the dogmas and tenets of this people; one thing is certain, that this general movement in the four quarters of the globe, and rush for California, opens a new chapter in the colonizing and peopleing of a sparsely inhabited and fruitful region of our globe. The influence in which their arrival and settlement must have upon the present condition of California, is quite uncertain; but should the tide of emigration continue to flow in, (as it undoubtedly will) California must very soon become a very different country from what it has been,—civilly, socially, morally, and religiously. We cannot but hope for a brighter day and most certainly we are far from taking a dark view of the subject.

Before closing our remarks, we feel ourselves in duty bound to give publicity to the testimony of Capt. Richardson, master of the "Brooklyn" in regard to the general character of the emigrants as it has been developed during a long voyage round Cape Horn. Of their general behavior and character, he speaks in the most favorable manner. They have lived in peace together, and uniformly appeared to be quiet and orderly. They are going with the full determination of making a settlement, and have brought ploughs, carts, scythes and all kinds of husbandry implements, and tools for ship and home building. They have not lost sight of the means of promoting education and schools. Many of the emigrants coming from New England and the middle states, are inclined to transplant some of the noble institutions of their native regions. Capt. R informs us that during most of the passage they have maintained orderly and well conducted daily religious exercises, which still continue while lying in port.

During the passage of the "Brooklyn" there have occurred 10 deaths, (4 adults and 6 children,) and 2 births. A male child born before doubling the Cape, was called Atlantic, and a female born this side is called Pacific.
This numerous company of emigrants are soon to leave for their new home; may it prove more peaceful than the one they left. So far as their minds may have been led to embrace error, may it be renounced. That we differ upon many essential points of doctrine and practice is clearly manifest, yet our best wishes and prayers go with them. May the fostering smiles of a benignant Providence rest upon them. They are to lay the foundation of society, and institutions, social, civil and religious. O, may they be such that coming generations shall rise up and call them blessed."

Seaports, VIPS, Ship Passenger Lists ~ Arrival of Mormons by the Brooklyn in San Francisco 1846
Date Entered: 1998-Ongoing ~
Sources: As noted on entries and through research centers including
National Archives, San Bruno, California; San Francisco
Main Library History Collection; Maritime Library, San Francisco, California.